How big of a flail mower for ford 860?

Steve in Oh · Oct 15, 2008

Hey guys, how big of a flail mower do you think my ford 860 with live pto and five speed handle? I"ve been looking to get one, just not sure on size. Any input is appreciated. Thanks

old · Oct 15, 2008

I would say about a 6 foot, or in other words the same size as you would use if you where using a brush hog. I have a 6 foot and it will make the D-17 I have used it behind bark when it get into heavy stuff. Now the same 6 footer behind my Super 88 Oliver well it just plays with it but the Oliver has more guts then the Allis D-17 has and a lot more then your 860 does
Hobby farm

Jim in Ma. · Oct 15, 2008

A lot depends on what you plan to cut. For lawns I thing you could use an 8' but if you want to cut tall or heavy stuff you better think 6'. It takes quite a lot of power to run a flail compared to a rotary. I hope this helps.

Steve in Oh · Oct 15, 2008

What I'm cutting is no more than 8-12" tall. Just not happy with the 5' bush hog.

Rick Kr · Oct 15, 2008

I run a 7 footer behind a 3930 45hp.

I cruise right along on shorter grass <2 foot.

If you get into tall grass, 4-5 foot, the tractor is working for all it is worth. You end up slowing down quite a bit.

I use to use this same flail to cut my lawn behind a 2600, 34hp. Worked pretty good, as long as the grass wasn't over 6-7 inches.

So a lot depends on what you plan on cutting.

Good luck,
Rick

Bill in IL · Oct 15, 2008

I run a 6 foot lundell green chopper (flail chopper) behind an M farmall with no problems. But I am running 1st or second gear and 2 foot grass out of the hay field. I could run 3rd or 4th with light grass like you are talking about.

Ray in NJ · Oct 15, 2008

I think the common rate is 10 horse per 1 foot of flail mower.

MarkB_MI · Oct 15, 2008

I run a six foot flail on my four cylinder 4000, which is similar to your 860. This works out well, since the mower is slightly wider than the rear wheels on the tractor. I wouldn't recommend going much bigger; eight foot would be the absolute max. Flail mowers need a lot of power, and I sometimes have to drop down to first gear for very tall grass.

geok · Oct 15, 2008

I run two 7 foot John Deeres. One is on a 35 hp Zebra 3520 and when I hit thick grass the belt starts slipping. The little tractor doesn't even strain. Run the other 7 footer behind a John Deer 2040. Belt start slipping on it when I try too mow wire grass or 6 foot tall weeds too fast. Tractor labors a little. The JD is supposed to be rated at 41 hp.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 16, 2008

What kind of flail mower? I'd say go with a 6 ft. so you have some reserve power. Flails don't take 10 HP/ft. Rototillers can though. A good flail like an Alamo/Mott actually use less HP than a rotary of the same size. It's important to keep the rotor speed up on a flail. Most people will buy a rotary mower because they are cheaper. A flail is superior in tall grass. Dave

Jack a · Oct 16, 2008

Either your 88 has a upgrade engine kit (880 or so) or your D17 has something wrong with it. Been around both those tractors a lot and the 88 has it's good and bad points and the d17 has it's good and bad but I never saw the Super 88 out work a D17 other than one I was working with that had an engine transplant for pulling purposes.

old · Oct 16, 2008

D-17 is rated at around 52 HP and an Oliver Super 88 is 55HP so the oliver is a bigger tractor all around plus the 6 cylinder in the S88 produces more torque power then the 4 cylinder in a D-17

How big of a flail mower for ford 860?

Steve in Oh

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